Vehicle electronic equipment apparatus and its assembling method

ABSTRACT

A central control panel (P) and accessory control components (U2, U3) are selected in correspondence with the type of vehicle, and are electrically and mechanically integrally connected to each other together with a signal control component (U1). The control components (U1-U3) are stored in an opening portion (2) of an instrument panel (1), and the opening portion is covered by the central control panel (P). Upon operation of a given switch (7) on the central control panel (P), a switch signal is output to the signal control component (U1), which outputs an activation signal representing the activation condition corresponding to the switch signal to the accessory control components (U2, U3), and the accessory control components (U2, U3) output display control signals according to the activation signal to the central control panel (P).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle electronic equipmentapparatus and its assembling method.

BACKGROUND ART

In a vehicle, especially, an automobile, the number (variety) of vehicleelectric device components which operate in accordance with passenger'soperations is growing, and such electric device components areconcentratively arranged in the middle of an instrument panel betweenthe driver seat and front passenger seat. More specifically,air-conditioner and audio control vehicle electric device components aredisposed in this portion, and a console including switches and the likeoperated by a passenger, and a display unit such as a display fordisplaying the operation states of the vehicle electric devicecomponents are mounted on its front surface, i.e., the surface facingthe passenger room. Recently, the variety of audio units (caraccessories) has increased, and the number of audio units including anAM/FM radio receiver, cassette deck, CD player, MD player, equalizer,and the like alone is considerable. In addition to these units, anavigation unit is also popularly mounted, and a display for displayingthe map for the navigation unit is required.

Conventionally, vehicle electric device components having differentfunctions (contents of information processing) are independent of eachother, and have consoles operated by the passenger and display units forthe passenger on their front surfaces, i.e., the surfaces facing thepassenger room in units of independent vehicle electric devicecomponents. In order to concentrate or commonly use the display unitsand a large number of consoles as much as possible, a plurality ofvehicle electric device components having different functions aresometimes configured into a single unit.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-244636 proposed a frame that configuresa plurality of independent vehicle electric device components havingdifferent functions into one set. More specifically, this referenceproposed method of configuring a plurality of vehicle electric devicecomponents into one set using a frame which comprises a chassis portionfor coupling a plurality of vertically stacked vehicle electric devicecomponents into a single set, and a front surface panel portion thatforms a wall surface facing the passenger room. However, the individualvehicle electric device components independently have display units andconsoles, and the front surface panel portion is formed with onlyopenings that allow observation of these display units from thepassenger room, and openings that allow operation of the consoles fromthe passenger room. That is, the frame merely serves as a fasteningcomponent for configuring a plurality of independent vehicle electricdevice components into one set.

As described above, when many vehicle electric device components areconcentrated on a narrow space, the layout of the display units and manyconsoles is considerably limited, and it is not preferable in terms ofoperability and visibility. As the number of vehicle electric devicecomponents becomes larger, the operability and visibility for somevehicle electric device components worsen.

As a method of improving operability and visibility, as described above,different functions are combined to build a single unit. However, inthis case, since the number and variety of vehicle electric devicecomponents to be mounted (the number and variety of functions) varydepending on grades even in an identical model of vehicle, aconsiderable number of combinations exist for the number and variety ofvehicle electric device components to be mounted. For this reason, whensets of units are prepared in correspondence with these manycombinations, the number (variety) of sets becomes considerable. Thisfact limits formation of such sets, and the number of sets manufacturedper kind becomes small, resulting in high cost.

Especially, in recent vehicles, a console for an air conditioner isarranged in the middle portion of an instrument panel in the widthwisedirection of the vehicle in advance from the vehicle design process, anda 2-DIN opening is formed in a portion except for the console for theair conditioner. Units of the audio system, navigation apparatus, andthe like must be arranged within this 2-DIN space, thus tremendouslylimiting the layout of the consoles and display units of the vehicleelectric device components.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the aboveproblems, and has as its first object to provide a vehicle electronicequipment apparatus with high operability and visibility and itsassembling method.

It is the second object of the present invention to provide a vehicleelectronic equipment apparatus which can also improve the appearance inthe passenger room, and its assembling method.

It is the third object of the present invention to provide a vehicleelectronic equipment apparatus which can easily combine a plurality ofvehicle electric device components having different functions, and canreduce cost, and its assembling method.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve theobjects, a vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to thepresent invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,

The apparatus comprises vehicle electronic equipment apparatus comprisesat least one first control unit which is independently arranged, andexecutes different control processing operations, a central controlpanel which has a console and display unit for the first control unit,and defines a portion of an inner surface of a passenger room, and asecond control unit which is arranged independently of the first controlunit and the central control panel, is electrically connected to thecentral control panel, and executes signal processing with the firstcontrol unit via the central control panel, and in a state wherein thefirst and second control units are electrically connected to the centralcontrol panel, an operation signal according to an operation of theconsole can be output from the central control panel to the secondcontrol unit, a control signal according to an operation of the consolecan be output from the second control unit to the first control unit viathe central control panel, an activation signal representing anactivation condition according to the control signal can be output fromthe first control unit to the second control unit via the centralcontrol panel, and the second control unit can output a display controlsignal according to the activation signal to the central control panel.

Preferably, the central control panel has a first connection portion towhich the first control unit is electrically connected, and a secondconnection portion to which the second control unit is electricallyconnected.

Preferably, the first and second control units are connected to thecentral control panel in a subassembly state, and the first and secondcontrol units and the central control panel are integrated.

Preferably, a plurality of the first control units and the secondcontrol unit are mounted, and the second control unit executes a signalcommunication with the first control unit via communication lineprovided to the central control panel.

Preferably, the display unit is a display for displaying imageinformation, the first control unit includes a control unit for anavigation apparatus, and image information of the control unit for thenavigation apparatus is output to the central control panel withoutintervention of the second control unit.

Preferably, the inner surface of the passenger room comprises aninstrument panel, which is formed with an opening portion for receivingthe first and second control units, and the opening portion is coveredby the central control panel while the first and second control unitsare stored in the instrument panel from the opening portion.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve theobjects, an assembling method for a vehicle electronic equipmentapparatus according to the present invention has the following features.That is,

The method comprises the first step of selecting at least one of atleast a plurality of first control units, which are independent fromeach other, and execute different control processing operations, incorrespondence with a type of vehicle, the second step of selecting oneof central control panels, each of which has a console and display unitfor the first control unit, and defines a portion of an inner surface ofa passenger room, in correspondence with the type of vehicle, and thethird step of electrically connecting a second control unit, which isarranged independently of the first control unit and the central controlpanel, and executes signal processing with the first control unit viathe central control panel, and the first control unit selected in thesecond step to the central control panel selected in the first step, andthe first and second control units are electrically connected to thecentral control panel, so as to allow the central control panel tooutput an operation signal according to an operation at the console tothe second control unit, the second control unit to output a controlsignal according to an operation at the console to the first controlunit via the central control panel, the first control unit to output anactivation signal representing an activation condition corresponding tothe control signal to the second control unit via the central controlpanel, and the second control unit to output a display control signalaccording to the activation signal to the central control panel.

Preferably, the method further comprises the fourth step of integratingthe first and second control units, and the central control panel byconnecting the first and second control units to a rear surface of thecentral control panel in a subassembly state, and the first and secondcontrol units, and the central control panel are assembled in a vehiclein the integrated state obtained in the fourth step.

Preferably, the inner surface of the passenger room comprises aninstrument panel, which is formed with an opening portion for receivingthe first and second control units, and the opening portion is coveredby the central control panel while the first and second control unitsare stored in the instrument panel from the opening portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example in which a vehicleelectronic equipment apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is mounted in an instrument panel;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of principal part in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the state wherein a subassemblyof a central control panel and vehicle electric device components isassembled to the instrument panel;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the state wherein thesubassembly of the central control panel and vehicle electric devicecomponents has been assembled to the instrument panel;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a connection example between thecentral control panel and vehicle electric device components; and

FIG. 6 is a chart for explaining the process of obtaining requiredsubassemblies from a plurality of vehicle electric device components anda plurality of central control panels.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment according to the present invention will be described indetail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Note that an electronic equipment apparatus of this embodiment isconnected to a navigation apparatus, audio equipment, and the like, andconstitutes a central control means that can concentratively controlthese apparatuses via a display and control panel. Hence, in thefollowing description, the electronic equipment apparatus will bereferred to as a central control panel.

The central control panel is connected to vehicle electric devicecomponents (car accessories) such as an audio equipment, navigationapparatus, and the like in place of their normal operation switches, andthe like, and can concentratively control these components.

According to this central control panel, vehicle electric devicecomponents which are conventionally individually attached can beintegrally arranged, and central control panels having different designsand functions are prepared in correspondence with the types of vehicles,thus broadening the range of choice by the user and allowing the user toconsider the appearance of the passenger room upon choosing the centralcontrol panel.

[Description of FIGS. 1 and 2]

The outline of the overall embodiment of the present invention will beexplained below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an instrument panel(dashboard) serving as a panel member which defines the wall surface inthe passenger room. The instrument panel 1 has an opening portion 2formed at nearly the middle portion in the widthwise direction of thevehicle. The opening portion 2 is formed to be large enough to receivestacked vehicle electric device components (to be described later). Theopening portion 2 is covered by a central control panel P so that itsinterior is concealed from the passenger room. The central control panelP essentially constitutes a portion of the instrument panel 1.

Three electric device components U1, U2, and U3 are disposed on the rearsurface side of the central control panel P (on the side opposite to thepassenger room), so as to be located within the opening portion 2(within the instrument panel 1). The central control panel P and thevehicle electric device components U1, U2, and U3 are coupled to andintegrated with each other, and are electrically connected to each otherso that they can exchange various control signals, status signals, andthe like. A signal control component U1 serving as a second control unitperforms input/output control of various signals between the centralcontrol panel and vehicle electric device components, as will bedescribed later. Accessory control components U2 and U3 serving as firstcontrol units are respectively ones for an AM/FM radio receiver and CDplayer. Note that a vehicle electric device component for an airconditioner is placed at a position separated from the central controlpanel P, and is an external equipment which is not coupled to thecentral control panel P. The vehicle electric device components U1 to U3each have a size substantially equal to or smaller than a 1-DIN size,are formed into a vertically low-profile box shape, and are verticallystacked.

The vehicle electric device components U1 to U3 have neither consoles(input units) operated by the passenger nor display units (output units)for displaying the activation states and the like (the same applies toother electric device components to be described later), and the displayunit and console for these accessory electric device components U1 to U3are arranged on the central control panel P. More specifically, thecentral control panel P has a display 5 as a visual display unitcomprising a liquid crystal display, an opening 6 which is formed belowthe display 5 and is used for loading/unloading a compact disk into/fromthe accessory electric device component U3, an audio operation switchgroup 7 disposed around the opening 6, and an air-conditioning switchgroup 8 disposed below the opening 6 and switch group 7. These openingand switch groups serve as a console.

The display 5 is commonly used by the accessory control components U2and U3, and the vehicle electric device component for the airconditioner. The switch group 7 is commonly used by the accessorycontrol components U2 and U3. The switch group 8 is exclusively used forair-conditioning operations. In this manner, the passenger operates theaccessory control components U2 and U3 using the switch group 7 as aconsole arranged on the central control panel P, and the activationconditions of the accessory control components U2 and U3 correspondingto the operation conditions of the switch group 7 are displayed on thedisplay 5 as well as the operation states (operation selection states)of the switch groups 7 and 8. Note that the types of switches includedin the switch groups 7 and 8 and the display contents on the display 5are the same as those of a conventional CD player, AM/FM radio receiver,and air conditioner.

The central control panel P also has an ashtray 9 and cigarette lighter10, which are juxtaposed in the widthwise direction of the vehicle belowthe air-conditioner switch group 8. Furthermore, air outlets 11 for theair-conditioner are formed on the right and left end portions of thecentral control panel P.

The opening portion 2 is horizontally divided into three openingportions 2A and 2C by a pair of right and left vertically extendingpartition walls 3. The largest opening portion 2A stores the vehicleelectric device components U1 to U3. The opening portions 2C formed onthe right and left sides of the opening portion 2A serve as paths forair-conditioning air adjusted by the air-conditioning air outlets 11 ofthe central control panel P, and are connected to an air-conditioningair duct (not shown).

The central control panel P and vehicle electric device components U1 toU3 form an integrated subassembly KP in advance before they are mountedon the vehicle, and the subassembly is mounted on the vehicle via theopening portion 2 from the side of the vehicle electric devicecomponents U1 to U3, so that the vehicle electric device components U1to U3 are stored in the opening portion 2A. Upon completion of assembly,the central control panel P essentially constitutes a portion of theinstrument panel 1. Note that the outer edge portion of the centralcontrol panel P is substantially flush with the opening edge portion ofthe opening portion 2, i.e., the instrument panel 1 upon completion ofassembly to the instrument panel 1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a steering support member 54 extends in thehorizontal direction, i.e., the widthwise direction of the vehicleinside the instrument panel 1. As is well known, the steering supportmember 54 serves as a reinforcement member of the vehicle body side, anda stay 12 obtained by working a metal plate such as an iron plate or thelike is fixed to the steering support member 54 by, e.g., welding or thelike. The stay 12 has a guide member 13 and support member 14. The guidemember 14 has a flat shape as a whole, and extends backward from thesteering support member 54, i.e., toward the opening portion 2. At leastthe upper surface of the guide member 13 extends approximatelyhorizontally near the steering support member 54, and gradually lowerstoward the opening portion 2 (when viewed from the opening portion 2side, the upper surface of the guide member 13 gradually becomes highertoward the steering support member 54, i.e., forward, and roughlyhorizontally extends near the steering support member 54).

The support member 14 is formed as if the stay 12 partially extendedupright near the steering support member 54. The support member 14 isformed with a fitting hole (fitting recess portion) 15 at apredetermined level position. The fitting hole 15 is slightly tilted togradually rise toward the front.

The plurality of vehicle electric device components U1 to U3 that formsthe subassembly KP are housed in a case body 17, which firmly couplesthe plurality of vehicle electric device components U1 to U3 (especiallyvertically), and is fixed to the rear surface of the central controlpanel P to integrally reinforce the subassembly KP. A fitting projection18 integrally extends forward from the front surface of the case body17, i.e., the surface near the steering support member 54. The fittingprojection 18 fits into the fitting hole 15, and is slightly tilted togradually rise toward the front.

A first connector 52 serving as a connector on the side of thesubassembly KP is arranged on the lower surface of the case body 17. Asecond connector 53 as a connector on the vehicle body side is arrangedon the bottom surface of the stay 12 in correspondence with the firstconnector 52. The connection portion of the first connector 52 facesforward, and that of the second connector 53 faces backward. Theconnectors 52 and 53 are of aligning type, as is well known, and can beconnected to each other by fitting even when their positions areslightly offset from each other. Note that these connectors 52 and 53are used for connecting an external equipment (equipments on the vehiclebody side) outside the subassembly KP, for example, connecting thevehicle electric device component for the air conditioner, loudspeaker,antenna, power supply, or the like.

The processes for assembling the subassembly KP into the instrumentpanel 1 will be described below.

The subassembly KP, which is integrated in advance as well as the casebody 17, is inserted into the instrument panel 1 via the opening portion2 from the side of the vehicle electric device components U1 to U3. Atthe beginning of insertion, the bottom surface of the front end portionof the subassembly KP is placed on the guide member 13, and after that,the subassembly KP is inserted while its weight is supported by theguide member 13.

When the nearly horizontal portion of the guide member 13, i.e., itsportion near the steering support member 54 supports the subassembly KP,the fitting projection 18 is located in the very proximity of thefitting hole 15, and the first connector 52 is also located in the veryproximity of the connector 53 (see FIG. 3). When the subassembly KP isinserted deeper from the state shown in FIG. 3, the fitting projection18 is inserted into the fitting hole 15, and at that time, the firstconnector 52 is connected to the second connector 53.

When the subassembly KP is further inserted, the fitting projection 18fits into the fitting hole 15 deeper. In this case, due to the tilt ofthe fitting projection 18 and fitting hole 15, the subassembly KPslightly floats from the guide member 13 and is spaced therefrom (symbolL in FIG. 4 indicates the separation distance). At the same time, thefirst connector 52 completely fits into the second connector 53, andthey are electrically connected to each other. After that, the centralcontrol panel P is fixed to the instrument panel 1 (to the peripheraledge portion of its opening portion 2) by set members 19 such as screwsor the like, thus completing assembly to the instrument panel 1.

Upon insertion of the subassembly KP into the opening portion 2, thesubassembly KP is prevented from largely horizontally deviating by thepartition walls 3 of the instrument panel 1, and fitting between thefitting hole 15 and fitting projection 18, and connection between theconnectors 52 and 53 can be more easily done. Since the fittingprojection 18 has a tapered distal end portion, it can reliably fit intothe fitting hole 15 while absorbing any small positional deviation fromthe fitting hole 15. The subassembly KP can be detached from theinstrument panel 1 in a procedure opposite to that described above.

In the assembly completion state of the subassembly KP to the instrumentpanel 1, the front end portion side of the subassembly KP is securelysupported by the steering support member 54 via the support member 14,and its rear end portion side is supported by the instrument panel 1 bythe set members 19. Since the subassembly KP as a load member isseparated from the guide member 13 which extends from the steeringsupport member 54 in a cantilever style, the subassembly KP can beprevented from contacting the guide member 13 to produce vibrationswhile the vehicle is traveling.

[Description of FIG. 5]

The relationship between the central control panel P and vehicleelectric device components U1 to U3 will be explained below withreference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows all the functions that can be added tothe central control panel P as those for a high grade, and thecomponents shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are selectively added from those shownin FIG. 5.

Under such condition, the central control panel P has the display 5, aswitch group SW corresponding to the switch groups 7 and 8, and anindicator (lamp) 21 serving as another display unit. The central controlpanel P has a connection portion (connector) 22 for the signal controlcomponent U1, and a connection portion (connector) 23 for accessorycontrol components UA to UC.

Three vehicle electric device components UA, UB, and UC shown in FIG. 5correspond to the accessory control components U2 and U3. The vehicleelectric device component UA is one for a navigation apparatus, thevehicle electric device component UB is one for an audio system, and thevehicle electric device component UC is one for a DIS (drive informationsystem which presents the traffic information, current mileage, currentaverage vehicle velocity, and the like). Reference numeral 25 denotes aconnection portion (connectors) for these accessory control componentsUA to UC to the central control panel P, which connection portion isdetachably connected to the connection portion 23 of the central controlpanel P. Note that the connection portions 23 and 25 are substantiallyindependent of each other in units of vehicle electric device componentsUA to UC, and three each connection portions 23A to 23C or 25A to 25Care arranged in practice (the connectors 23A and 25A are connected toeach other, the connectors 23B and 25B are connected, and the connectors23C and 25C are connected).

The signal control component U1 has a center module 26 including a CPUfor performing principal control for signal communications, and an imageROM. Reference numeral 24 denotes a connection portion (connector) forthe signal control component U1. This connection portion 24 isdetachably connected to the connection portion 22 of the central controlpanel P.

Reference symbol G generally denotes external devices such as theair-conditioning control component, and the like, which are not shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. Of the external devices G, reference numeral 28 denotesan air-conditioning controller; 29, sensors required forair-conditioning control; and 30, an air-conditioning drive component,which is drive-controlled in accordance with instructions from thecontroller 28. Also, reference numeral 31 denotes an antenna; 32,loudspeaker; 33, various sensors used for the accessory controlcomponent UC for the DIS; and 34, various sensors required for theaccessory control component for the navigation apparatus. The externaldevices (31 to 34) exclusive for the accessory control components UA toUC can communicate signals with these accessory control components UA toUC without the intervention of the signal control component U1.

All the signal communications between the central control panel P andaccessory control components UA to UC are made while intervening thesignal control component U1 via communication lines provided to thecentral control panel P, except that only an image signal from theaccessory control component UA for the navigation apparatus is directlyoutput to the display 5. More specifically, operation signals from theswitch group SW of the central control panel P are independently inputto the signal control component U1 via the communication lines providedto the central control panel P, and activation command signalscorresponding to the operation states of the switch group SW are outputfrom the signal control component U1 to the accessory control componentsUA to UC or external devices G (the air-conditioning controller 28thereof) via the communication lines provided to the central controlpanel P and the connectors 22, 23, or 52 provided to the central controlpanel P.

After activation signals indicating the activation conditions of theaccessory control components UA to UC (and air-conditioning controller28) are temporarily input to the signal control component U1, outputsignals according to the activation signals are output from the signalcontrol component U1 to the display 5 or indicator 21 as the displayunits. In this way, since the central control panel P has thecommunication lines but no signal communication function with theaccessory control components UA to UC, it can be constituted with lowercost than when the function of the signal control component U1 thatcontrols signal communications is provided to the central control panelP.

Note that the central control panel P or vehicle electric devicecomponents U1 and UA to UC comprise I/O ports, A/D ports, SI/SO ports,and interfaces in accordance with the types of signals, but they are notshown. Also, electric power is supplied from the connector 52 to thevehicle electric device components U1 and UA to UC via the centralcontrol panel P.

[Description of FIG. 6]

FIG. 6 schematically shows the processes upon obtaining subassemblies ofthe vehicle electric device components and central control panelcorresponding to the differences of vehicle types including the gradesof vehicles from a plurality of electric device components and aplurality of central control panels, which are prepared in advance. InFIG. 6, five different accessory control components U11 to U15 areprepared. A total of six different combinations K1 to K6 of componentscan be selected from these five different accessory control componentsU11 to U15. A total of six different central control panels are preparedin correspondence with these six different combinations K1 to K6. Notethat the signal control component U1 is commonly used by all thecombinations, and an identical one is used for an arbitrary centralcontrol panel (an arbitrary combination of accessory control componentsU11 to U15). Hence, the component U1 is not shown in FIG. 6.

One of the combinations K1 to K6 of vehicle electric device componentsis selected according to the type of vehicle. Similarly, one of thecentral control panels P11 to P16 is selected according to the type ofvehicle. When the selected one of the combinations K1 to K5 is coupledand connected to the selected one of the central control panels P11 toP16, one of subassemblies KP1 to KP6 is obtained, and is mounted on thevehicle.

The assemblies KP1 to KP6 can be prepared in advance. Based on the typeof vehicle, the combination of vehicle electric device components (oneselected from K1 to K6) and the central control panel (one selected fromP11 to P16) are selected according to the type of vehicle, and theselected combination of vehicle electric device components is coupledand connected to the selected central control panel to obtain one of thesubassemblies KP11 to KP16.

Based on the combinations K1 to K6, the required central control panelis selected (one of P11 to P16 is selected) in accordance with one ofthese combinations, and the subassembly (KP11 to KP16) is obtained incorrespondence with the combination of vehicle electric devicecomponents. Based on the central control panels P11 to P16, thecombination of vehicle electric device components corresponding to thecentral control panel used is selected (one of K1 to K5 is selected),thus obtaining one of the subassemblies KP11 to KP16 corresponding tothe central control panel.

The number of combinations corresponding to the number (variety) ofunits may be equal to, smaller than, or larger than the number ofaccessory control units. The central control panels normally prepared incorrespondence with the number (variety) of combinations. However, forexample, when a high-grade central control panel is commonly used forsome lower grades, the number of central control panels may be smallerthan that of combinations (an unnecessary opening may be covered by ablank cover, or some switches are disabled). Of course, the numbers(variety) of vehicle electric device components, combinations, andcentral control panels are not limited to those shown in FIG. 6, but maybe appropriately determined. As the numbers of units and combinationsincrease, the advantages of the present invention are enhanced.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The embodiment has been described, but the present invention is notlimited to this embodiment and includes, e.g., the following cases. Thevehicle electric device components to be coupled and connected to thecentral control panel P are not limited to the illustrated ones. Inaddition, a vehicle control unit, engine control unit, automatictransmission control unit, ABS control unit, auto-cruising control unit,steering control unit, antitheft control unit, vehicle height adjustmentcontrol unit, driver identification control unit (e.g., identificationusing an ID card), ON/OFF-control unit for lamps of a vehicle, and thelike may be appropriately used. In this case, in some accessory controlcomponents, at least one of its output and input units may be arrangedon the central control panel P, and the other may be disposed at aposition separated from the central control panel P (it is not coupledto the central control panel P). Especially, a vehicle electric devicecomponent with a small number of input members such as switches to beoperated by the passenger is preferably not coupled to the centralcontrol panel P.

The fitting portion 18 forms a portion to be supported, and the supportmember 14 and fitting hole 15 form a supporting portion. Alternatively,the fitting projection 18 may be formed on the vehicle body side, andthe fitting hole 15 may be formed on the subassembly KP side. Thefitting projection 18 provided on the subassembly KP side may be formedindependently of, e.g., the vehicle electric device component, and maybe fixed by a fixing member or the like.

The central control panel P and vehicle electric device components maybe separately mounted on the vehicle without being structurally coupledto each other. The central control panel P need not always be disposedon the instrument panel 1. For example, the panel P may be disposed onan appropriate inner wall such as a side panel or the like in thepassenger room. A plurality of different accessory control components U1may be prepared and changed (selected) in correspondence with thesubassembly (a combination of accessory control components or centralcontrol panel.

The objectives of the present invention include not only the illustratedmembers but also tacitly include members described practicallypreferable or advantages.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the display unitand console for the accessory control components are arranged on thecentral control panel formed independently of the vehicle electricdevice components, the degree of freedom in layout of the console anddisplay can be remarkably improved, and is preferable in terms ofimprovement of operability and visibility.

Since the central control panel is arranged independently of the vehicleelectric device components, the central control panel, especially, itssurface facing the passenger room, is designed to be suitable for thewall surface in the vehicle body, thus improving its appearance.

Furthermore, accessory control components with different functions canbe directly used by exchanging the central control panel alone. That is,when the central control panel is exchanged in correspondence withspecific combinations of the numbers and types of accessory controlcomponents, the same effect as that obtained by a set of a plurality ofaccessory control components having different functions can be obtained.

This allows easy selection of the number of combinations of a pluralityof accessory control components with different functions, and leads tolow cost.

Moreover, the layout position of each accessory control component is notso strictly limited since its operability and visibility need not betaken into consideration unlike the components which have their owndisplays and consoles, and the space inside the wall surface in thepassenger room can be effectively used.

In addition, since the signal control component that executes signalcommunications is independently arranged to control signalcommunications with the accessory control components, and the centralcontrol panel need not have any functions of the signal controlcomponents, the cost of the central control panel can be reduced.

Since the connection positions of the accessory control components andsignal control component with respect to the central control panel arepredetermined, a failure diagnosis function or the like of determiningconnection states need not be additionally provided to the centralcontrol panel or control components, thus providing advantages in termsof cost.

Since the central control panel and respective control components areintegrated in advance, they can form one set before they are mounted onthe vehicle, and assembly errors with respect to the vehicle can bereduced.

Since a single signal control component can cope with a plurality ofaccessory control components, such arrangement is preferable in terms ofspace savings and the like.

Since image information of the navigation apparatus that requires a verylarge information transmission volume is directly output to theaccessory control component, the need for signal communications of thesignal control component therefor can be obviated, thus reducing theload on the signal control component and increasing the communicationspeed to the display unit. In addition, such arrangement is preferablefor obtaining a low-cost signal control component. Since the signalcontrol component need not process image information of the navigationapparatus, a signal communication function of many types of accessorycontrol components can be provided to the signal control component, andthe signal control component can be used perfectly commonly,independently of different types of vehicles, or commonly among amaximum possible number of types of vehicles.

When the accessory control components, signal control component, andcentral control panel are applied to the instrument panel on which manyoperation members such as switches and the like, and a display unit suchas a display or the like are normally concentrated, the above-mentionedeffects can be sufficiently provided.

Also, an assembling method of vehicle electric device components, whichobtains the above-mentioned effects in accordance with the types ofvehicles, can be provided. In particular, expensive accessory controlcomponents can be commonly used independently of the types of vehicles.

An assembly that forms a set can be assembled by a simple method, i.e.,by inserting it from the passenger room side into the opening portion ofthe instrument panel.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatuscharacterized by comprising:a first control unit which is independentlyarranged, and executes different control processing operations; acentral control panel which has a console and display unit for saidfirst control unit, and defines a portion of an inner surface of apassenger room; and a second control unit which is arrangedindependently of said first control unit and said central control panel,is electrically connected to said central control panel, and executessignal processing with said first control unit via said central controlpanel, and in that in a state wherein said first and second controlunits are electrically connected to said central control panel, anoperation signal according to an operation of the console can be outputfrom said central control panel to said second control unit, a controlsignal according to an operation of the console can be output from saidsecond control unit to said first control unit via said central controlpanel, an activation signal representing an activation conditionaccording to the control signal can be output from said first controlunit to said second control unit via said central control panel, andsaid second control unit can output a display control signal accordingto the activation signal to said central control panel.
 2. A vehicleelectronic equipment apparatus according to claim 1, characterized inthat said central control panel has a first connection portion to whichsaid first control unit is electrically connected, and a secondconnection portion to which said second control unit is electricallyconnected.
 3. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according toclaim 2, characterized in that the inner surface of the passenger roomcomprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an opening portionfor receiving said first and second control units, and the openingportion is covered by said central control panel while said first andsecond control units are stored in said instrument panel from theopening portion.
 4. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus accordingto claim 1, characterized in that said first and second control unitsare connected to said central control panel in a subassembly state, andsaid first and second control units and said central control panel areintegrated.
 5. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according toclaim 4, characterized in that a plurality of said first control unitsand said second control unit are mounted, and said second control unitexecutes a signal communication with said at least one of said pluralityof first control unit via a communication line provided to said centralcontrol panel.
 6. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according toclaim 4, characterized in that the inner surface of the passenger roomcomprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an opening portionfor receiving said first and second control units, and the openingportion is covered by said central control panel while said first andsecond control units are stored in said instrument panel from theopening portion.
 7. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus accordingto claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of said first controlunits and said second control unit are mounted, and said second controlunit executes a signal communication with at least one of said pluralityof said first control unit via a communication line provided to saidcentral control panel.
 8. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatusaccording to claim 7, characterized in that the display unit is adisplay for displaying image information, wherein said at least one ofsaid plurality of said first control unit includes a control unit for anavigation apparatus, and image information of said at least one of saidplurality of said first control unit for th e navigation apparatus isoutput to said central control panel without intervention of said secondcontrol unit.
 9. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according toclaim 8, characterized in that the inner surface of the passenger roomcomprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an opening portionfor receiving said at least one of said plurality of said first andsecond control units, and the opening portion is covered by said centralcontrol panel while said at least one of said plurality of said firstand second control units are stored in said instrument panel from theopening portion.
 10. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatus accordingto claim 7, characterized in that the inner surface of the passengerroom comprises an instrument panel, which is formed with an openingportion for receiving said at least one of said plurality of said firstand second control units, and the opening portion is covered by saidcentral control panel while said at least one of said plurality of saidfirst and second control units are stored in said instrument panel fromthe opening portion.
 11. A vehicle electronic equipment apparatusaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface of thepassenger room comprises an instrument panel, which is formed with anopening portion for receiving said first and second control units, andthe opening portion is covered by said central control panel while saidfirst and second control units are stored in said instrument panel fromthe opening portion.
 12. An assembling method for a vehicle electronicequipment apparatus, comprising:a first step of selecting at least oneof a plurality of first control units, which are independent from eachother, and execute different control processing operations, incorrespondence with a type of vehicle; a second step of selecting one ofcentral control panels, each of which has a console and display unit forsaid at least one of a plurality of first control unit, and defines aportion of an inner surface of a passenger room, in correspondence withthe type of vehicle; and a third step of electrically connecting asecond control unit, which is arranged independently of said at leastone of a plurality of first control unit and said central control panel,and executes signal processing with said first control unit via said atleast one of a plurality of central control panel, and said at least oneof a plurality of first control unit selected in the second step to saidat least one of a plurality of central control panel selected in thefirst step, and in that said at least one of a plurality of first andsecond control units are electrically connected to said central controlpanel, so as to allow said central control panel to output an operationsignal according to an operation at the console to said second controlunit, said second control unit to output a control signal according toan operation at the console to said at least one of a plurality of firstcontrol unit via said central control panel, at least one of a pluralityof said first control unit to output an activation signal representingan activation condition corresponding to the control signal to saidsecond control unit via said central control panel, and said secondcontrol unit to output a display control signal according to theactivation signal to said central control panel.
 13. An assemblingmethod for a vehicle electronic equipment apparatus according to claim12, further comprising:a fourth step of integrating said at least one ofa plurality of first and second control units, and said central controlpanel by connecting said first and second control units to a rearsurface of said at least one of a plurality of central control panel ina subassembly state, and in that said first arid second control units,and said at least one of a plurality of central control panel areassembled in a vehicle in the integrated state obtained in the fourthstep.
 14. An assembling method for a vehicle electronic equipmentapparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the inner surfaceof the passenger room comprises an instrument panel, which is formedwith an opening portion for receiving said at least one of a pluralityof first and second control units, and the opening portion is covered bysaid central control panel while said first and second control units arestored in said at least one of a plurality of instrument panel from theopening portion.